education as governor of massachusetts. duval patrick followed romney as governor. he's co-chairman of the obama campaign and one of the president's staunchest defenders. what did he make of president obama's debate performance? he joins me now. governor, the general consensus seems to be your man took one hell of a shellacking. >> i think the president had a good debate but i think romney had a better one, to tell you the truth, especially on style points. we know governor romney from our time here in massachusetts, his time here in massachusetts. we know him to be a very effective salesman and he was selling. the problem is what he was selling won't actually do what he says it will do. it will not grow opportunity from the middle out. >> tell me this, though. i remember when we spoke at the dnc convention, you said, you made a big speech, we talked about it afterwards, time for the party to show some backbone. by party, obviously including the president. last night he didn't seem to have any backbone whatsoever. what was